Kolkata-based theatre group, Howrah Kadamtala Theatre Workers, has come up with a new production, Andhaar Goli this month. Written by Tapan Kumar Hazra and directed by Ashoke Ghosh, the play is the story of Basu family, which moves from microcosm to macrocosm, and inculcates the larger scheme of things, operating at the socio-political level.
At the centre of the plot, is the personal narrative of Anirban Basu (played by Gambhira Bhattacharjee), who has the lost the ability to communicate, due to personal trauma. But what leads him into such a dismal abyss? The entire play explores the answers, through the eight acts and its various flashback and flash forward sequences, as the scenes move between the childhood of Anirban (played by Snigdha Barui) and his grown-up self.
Anirban comes from a broken home and lives with his mother Hiranmayee Basu (played by Bindia Ghosh), who is a professor and walked out of her marriage, because of ideological differences with her husband, whom she calls a ‘Fascist’. But then it is she, who tries to recall the various small incidents of Anirban’s life, and engages in active self-analysis of her own political ideologies and finds herself, partially responsible for her son’s misery.
The rest of the play focuses on how Anirban comes out of the emotional turmoil with optimism, and tries to break free of the slowly gripping Andhaar Goli, which has been pervading all around him.
"It is only through the light of self-reflection that individuals and society at large, can benefit. The play brings to memory, a lot of real-life incidents which have happened in the recent past, and at the same, criticises a lot of political parties and their actions. But the main thrust of our play is communal harmony, and how our country as a whole can look beyond language, skin colour, caste and religion, to make the society a better place,” says director Ashoke Ghosh.
“I have been an ardent follower of Utpal Dutt and his various plays- such as Malopar’r Math, Neech Mohol and Angaar. Like Utpal Dutt, I also believe that every work of art has to have a political comment,” he adds.
The play has two songs, one written by Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, called Tumi dekhecho ki tumi raater she nirobota dekhecho ki shunecho ki raatrir kanna and another is an original one, written by the scriptwriter, Tapan Kumar Hazra, called Kaader shonge haathcho tumi, shamne morubhumi, which punctuate the narrative.
The light has been designed by Jayanta Mukhopadhyay, set has been designed by Kneel Kausik and the music has been composed and co-ordinated by Tapas Roy and Kalyan Sarkar and the costume has been designed by Pallabi Das.
At Academy of Fine Arts. June 25, 6:30 pm